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Lake Lanier Profile
Major Georgia Natural Resource
Headwaters of ACF Water System
~65% of ACF Water Storage
~6% of ACF Water Shed Drainage Area
Created in Mid 1950s
~39,000 Acre Reservoir Area
~637 Billion Gallons of Water – 354 Billion Above the Conservation Zone
~650 Miles of Shoreline
North Georgia Economic Engine
~8+ Million Annual Visitors
~10,600 Docks
10 Marinas
Estimated $300 Million in Recreational Economy Annual Impact
Water Supply for Millions of Georgians
Where are we Today
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10 Year Average Lake Levels
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1060
1061
1062
1063
1064
1065
1066
1067
1068
1069
1-Jan 1-Feb 1-Mar 1-Apr 1-May 1-Jun 1-Jul 1-Aug 1-Sep 1-Oct 1-Nov 1-Dec
Lake Lanier Elevation Levels10 Year Average 2004-2013 Calendar Years
Who We Are
Established in 1966
1,700 Memberships – ~3,000+ People
Recreational Users
Fishing, Sailing, Skiing, Tubing, Camping
Businesses
Property Owners
Active Board of Directors
Community Contributions
Representation
Legal Issues
Corps of Engineers
Other Community Groups
ACF Stakeholders Organization
1071 Coalition
Lanier Basin Advisory Committee
Lake Lanier Water Safety Alliance
Education/Political Forums
Information
Newsletters
Internet Social Networking
Programs
Annual Shore Sweep Event
Adopt-A-Lake
Boating Safety
Rules of the Road Decals
Solar Lighting on Hazard Markers
Property Owner Pledge Agreement
Lake Advocacy
Water Quality
Water Levels
Water Safety
Legal Advocacy
Gwinnett County—Wayne Hill Waste Water PermitEstablished new, higher standard of waste water treatment permit requirement.
Tri-State Water WarsSeeking recreational use and economic impact recognition
The only non-municipality or power company represented in the litigation
20+ Years of Debates and Challenges
Georgia’s right to drinking water from Lanier re-instated by 11th Circuit and
upheld by U.S. Supreme Court
Current Legal Threat from Florida lawsuit in U S Supreme Court
SCOTUS asked for legal opinion from Solicitor General
Engaged with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to update operating plan
incorporating 11th Circuit legal decisions
1073 Full Pool Sponsorship
Raise the “Full Pool” Water Level at Lake Lanier
Increase Level From 1071 to 1073 Feet Above Sea Level
Provides New 26+ Billion Gallon Reservoir
More Storage Than The Sum of All Proposed New Reservoirs
Very Modest Cost For Implementation
One Bridge Will be Raised – Mt. Vernon bridge in Hall County
Some Ramps Expanded
Some Recreation Facilities Adjusted
A Few Property Owners Will Update Their Shoreline Riprap Investment
History—Lake Lanier Has Been 1073 Over 300 Times and over 1077 Six
Times
Proposal Originally Made by LLA in 2006
Process will eventually involve Congressional authorization
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Shore Sweep
20+ years annual event
1,000 volunteers
13 lake locations
30+ tons of debris pulled ANNUALLY from the lake
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Why Do We Need Shore Sweep?
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Other Lake Issues – Ad Hoc Concerns
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Forsyth County/Browns Bridge area– Oct 2012Hall County/Flat Creek-Aug 2012
Hall County/Laurel Park area-Mar 2012
Nexus with Real Estate Industry and Professionals
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Property Values vs LLA Effectiveness
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Lake Property Value Differential
Weight of
LLA
Programs
Property
Values
Lake Lanier Association Effectiveness
Membership
Quantity
Quality
Effective Programs
Clean Lake
Full Lake
Safe Lake
Lake Advocacy
State House and Congress
Government agencies at all levels
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Summary
Lake Lanier Watchdog Organization for 40+ Years
Sustained by Active Membership
Clean Lake / Full Lake / Safe Lake - Mission
We Need Each Other
Questions?
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